The major structure blaze at the Rowleys Bay Resort in Door County required assistance from 20 area fire departments and close to 100 firefighters on Tuesday afternoon. Sister Bay/Liberty Grove Fire Chief Chris Hecht says the significant fire started in the basement of Grandma’s Swedish Bakery and spread to the upper level quickly requiring mutual aid from other fire departments. He shares how the fire was contained to that building thanks to a firewall and favorable winds that blew away from the other main buildings.
Hecht adds that the fire originated in a sitting room area in the basement of the bakery that appeared not to have mechanical devices in the room. He notes that an insurance company representative was on site after the fire was extinguished. Since there was extensive damage and structural collapse in the area it was unsafe to enter the basement where the fire began.
The building was razed by an excavating crew late Tuesday and the scene was cleared at about 10 p.m. Hecht says the investigation continues on the cause of the fire and more information may be available later this week.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE: Major fire shuts down Rowleys Bay Resort campus
CLICK HERE FOR MORE: Rowleys Bay Resort showing resilience in fire's aftermath
(photo courtesy of Door County Sheriffs Department)
